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Rubin is all over the place getting the stories.....
On Beltran to RF
Sandy Alderson said Tuesday at the GM meetings that he did not discuss with Carlos Beltran the topic of right field during his visit to San Juan on Saturday.
"The purpose of my trip to Puerto Rico was not to accomplish a position change," Alderson said. "My goal was simply to meet Carlos and several other players, which I was able to do -- Angel Pagan was there, Jose Reyes -- and establish a relationship. It was a great event. I met everyone. I had a chance to talk with Carlos -- not at length, because I didn't want to get in the way of what was clearly an important event for him. I was pleased with the fact I was able to be there and was able to make contact and shake hands. I met a number of other people, too, that had been or were associated with the Mets. So in that sense it was a good trip."
As for where Beltran ought to play, Alderson said "really the only fair thing" is to observe in spring training.
"It's not necessarily that the subject is only broached after spring training begins, but I think it's only fair to think about that and deal with it in the context of real information as opposed to opinion," Alderson said. "So we'll see." |
Is Thole the #1 Catcher?
Is Josh Thole the No. 1 catcher in 2011, with the Mets only in the market for an inexpensive, righty-hitting backup catcher? Sandy Alderson was noncommittal on that subject Tuesday at the GM meetings.
“Well, we’re looking for more catching help,” Alderson said. “It would be a little bit premature for me to make a judgment about his ability never having actually seen him play. So I’ll reserve that judgment. We’re thin there, both at the major league level and at Triple-A. So I think we will be looking for help. But I’ve heard nothing but good things about Josh. So I expect that he’s going to be a very important piece for us.”
As a follow-up, Alderson was asked if uncertainty about whether Thole is the No. 1 rules out re-signing free agent Henry Blanco as the backup, since Blanco turns 40 next season and almost assuredly would have to be a backup.
“Look, I’m not making a judgment about Thole as the No. 1 or No. 2,” Alderson replied. “Whether he plays the majority of games or not, we’re going to need additional catching help. So I think in part it’s going to depend on what I hear and what others think of Thole. And the second is going to depend on what’s available out there otherwise. But we’re very happy that we have him. Exactly what his role will be is a little undetermined. Whatever it is, we're going to need some backup.”
As for the free-agent catching market, John Buck appeared to go off the board Tuesday, with the Florida Marlins nearing a three-year, $18 million deal, according to the Associated Press.
The original free-agent list of catchers also included: Rod Barajas, Josh Bard, Gerald Laird, Jason LaRue, Victor Martinez, Chad Moeller, Bengie Molina, Miguel Olivo, A.J. Pierzynski, Yorvit Torreala, Matt Treanor, Jason Varitek and Gregg Zaun.
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